Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia
Australia: Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables was 175.76 terawatt-hours in 2025. ▲ Rising
Latest (2025)
175.76 terawatt-hours
Change on year
down 3.9%
World rank
16th
of 208 countries
All-time high
229.74 terawatt-hours
in 2009
All-time low
139.4 terawatt-hours
in 1990
Years of data
36
1990–2025
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia, 1990–2025
Source: Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data. Measured in terawatt-hours.
Analysis
In 2025, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia stood at 175.76 terawatt-hours.
Compared with earlier readings it is down 3.9% on the previous year and down 19.4% over ten years.
Over the whole period, electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia peaked at 229.74 terawatt-hours in 2009 and was at its lowest, 139.4 terawatt-hours, in 1990.
That places Australia 16th out of 208 countries with data for 2025, putting it in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 36 years of available data.
Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia, year by year
| Year | terawatt-hours | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 139.4 terawatt-hours | — |
| 1991 | 141.3 terawatt-hours | +1.4% |
| 1992 | 144.36 terawatt-hours | +2.2% |
| 1993 | 147.9 terawatt-hours | +2.5% |
| 1994 | 152.98 terawatt-hours | +3.4% |
| 1995 | 158.39 terawatt-hours | +3.5% |
| 1996 | 162.86 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 1997 | 171.65 terawatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 1998 | 182.19 terawatt-hours | +6.1% |
| 1999 | 189.04 terawatt-hours | +3.8% |
| 2000 | 199.29 terawatt-hours | +5.4% |
| 2001 | 207 terawatt-hours | +3.9% |
| 2002 | 205.54 terawatt-hours | -0.7% |
| 2003 | 207.29 terawatt-hours | +0.9% |
| 2004 | 209.85 terawatt-hours | +1.2% |
| 2005 | 210.02 terawatt-hours | +0.1% |
| 2006 | 216.85 terawatt-hours | +3.3% |
| 2007 | 222.9 terawatt-hours | +2.8% |
| 2008 | 226.26 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2009 | 229.74 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2010 | 228.81 terawatt-hours | -0.4% |
| 2011 | 225.67 terawatt-hours | -1.4% |
| 2012 | 220.39 terawatt-hours | -2.3% |
| 2013 | 214.03 terawatt-hours | -2.9% |
| 2014 | 214.89 terawatt-hours | +0.4% |
| 2015 | 218.19 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2016 | 216.49 terawatt-hours | -0.8% |
| 2017 | 219.78 terawatt-hours | +1.5% |
| 2018 | 213.14 terawatt-hours | -3.0% |
| 2019 | 210.64 terawatt-hours | -1.2% |
| 2020 | 200.87 terawatt-hours | -4.6% |
| 2021 | 190.18 terawatt-hours | -5.3% |
| 2022 | 185.48 terawatt-hours | -2.5% |
| 2023 | 178.04 terawatt-hours | -4.0% |
| 2024 | 182.85 terawatt-hours | +2.7% |
| 2025 | 175.76 terawatt-hours | -3.9% |
Australia compared with similar countries
- Australia's 175.76 terawatt-hours is above the median for high income countries, which is 4.3 terawatt-hours, 40.9× the median. (75 countries reporting)
- Australia's 175.76 terawatt-hours is above the median for East Asia & Pacific, which is 5.55 terawatt-hours, 31.7× the median. (31 countries reporting)
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1990s | 159.01 terawatt-hours | 139.4 terawatt-hours | 189.04 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2000s | 213.47 terawatt-hours | 199.29 terawatt-hours | 229.74 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2010s | 218.2 terawatt-hours | 210.64 terawatt-hours | 228.81 terawatt-hours | 10 |
| 2020s | 185.53 terawatt-hours | 175.76 terawatt-hours | 200.87 terawatt-hours | 6 |
Countries ranked near Australia
More reference data data for Australia
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 1.21 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 28.02 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 2.55 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Indirect emissions (N2O) - Agricultural Soils 38.41 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure applied to Soils 4.07 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure Management 6.14 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Manure left on Pasture 118.71 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - IPCC Agriculture 170.29 (2050)
- Emission Totals - Emissions (N2O) - Crop Residues 13.9 (2050)
Frequently asked questions
- What is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia?
- Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables in Australia was 175.76 terawatt-hours in 2025, according to Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data.
- What is the highest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in Australia?
- The highest recorded value was 229.74 terawatt-hours in 2009.
- What is the lowest electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables recorded in Australia?
- The lowest recorded value was 139.4 terawatt-hours in 1990.
- How does Australia rank for electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables?
- Australia ranks 16th out of 208 countries with data for 2025.
- Is electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables rising or falling in Australia?
- Over the last ten years it is down 19.4%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this Australia data come from?
- The figures come from Ember (2026) and other sources – with major processing by Our World in Data, published as part of Electricity generation from fossil fuels, nuclear and renewables. Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
Download this data
CSV · JSON — 36 observations, free to reuse under CC BY 4.0 (Our World in Data).
About this data
Electricity generation from coal, oil, and gas, measured in terawatt-hours.